Cleaning blade failure prediction processor and image forming apparatus incorporating same

ABSTRACT

A cleaning blade failure prediction processor for an image forming apparatus includes a pixel count acquisition circuit to acquire pixel count data of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade. The cleaning target is divided into a plurality of areas in a main scanning direction of the cleaning target. The pixel count acquisition circuit acquires a pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target. The cleaning blade failure prediction processor also includes a first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target, a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of the cleaning target, and a deformation identification circuit to determine whether or not the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation according to the cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-046208, filed onMar. 10, 2014, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a cleaningblade failure predictor and an image forming apparatus, and moreparticularly, to a cleaning blade failure prediction processor forpredicting a failure resulting from deformation of a cleaning blade thatcontacts and cleans a cleaning target, and to an image forming apparatusincorporating the cleaning blade failure prediction processor:

2. Background Art

Various types of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses areknown, including copiers, printers, facsimile machines, or multifunctionmachines having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile,plotter, and other capabilities. Such image forming apparatuses usuallyform an image on a recording medium according to image data.Specifically, in such image forming apparatuses, for example, a chargeruniformly charges a surface of a photoconductor serving as an imagecarrier. An optical writer irradiates the surface of the photoconductorthus charged with a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image onthe surface of the photoconductor according to the image data. Adevelopment device supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image thusformed to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a tonerimage. The toner image is then transferred onto a recording mediumdirectly, or indirectly via an intermediate transfer belt. Finally, afixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording medium carryingthe toner image to fix the toner image onto the recording medium.

In such image forming apparatuses, after the toner image is transferredfrom the photoconductor, there may be residual toner that fails to betransferred from the photoconductor and therefore remaining on thephotoconductor. Similarly, after the toner image is transferred from theintermediate transfer belt, there may be residual toner that fails to betransferred from the intermediate transfer belt and therefore remainingon the intermediate transfer belt. To remove such residual toner, theimage forming apparatuses typically include cleaners provided withcleaning blades that contact the photoconductor or the intermediatetransfer belt to remove residual toner therefrom.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present invention, an improved cleaning bladefailure prediction processor for an image forming apparatus is describedthat includes a pixel count. acquisition circuit to acquire pixel countdata of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade. The cleaning target isdivided into a plurality of areas in a main scanning direction of thecleaning target. The pixel count acquisition circuit acquires a pixelcount for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target. Theimproved cleaning blade failure prediction processor also includes afirst cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate acumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of thecleaning target, a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit tocalculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of the cleaningtarget, and a deformation identification circuit to determine whether ornot the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation according to thecumulative pixel count per distance traveled.

Also described is an improved image forming apparatus incorporating thecleaning blade failure prediction processor and an image formationdevice that includes the cleaning blade, failure of which is predictedby the cleaning blade failure prediction processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be more readily obtained as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description ofembodiments when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a process unit incorporated in the imageforming apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller incorporated in the imageforming apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the controller;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between image area ratioand frequency;

FIG. 6A is a graph showing failure sign identification results per area;

FIG. 6B is a plan view of a toner image formed;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a first series of operations of the imageforming apparatus; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a second series of operations of the imageforming apparatus.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of thepresent invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scopethereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn toscale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specificterminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosureof this patent specification is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that eachspecific element includes all technical equivalents that have the samefunction, operate in a similar manner, and achieve similar results.

Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations withreference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention and not all of the components orelements described in the embodiments of the present invention areindispensable.

In a later-described comparative example, embodiment, and exemplaryvariation, for the sake of simplicity like reference numerals are givento identical or corresponding constituent elements such as parts andmaterials having the same functions, and redundant descriptions thereofare omitted unless otherwise required.

It is to be noted that, in the following description, suffixes K, Y. M,and C denote colors black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, respectively. Tosimplify the description, these suffixes are omitted unless necessary.Similarly, to simplify the drawings, these suffixes are omitted unlessnecessary.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,embodiments of the present invention are described below.

Initially with reference to FIG. 1, a description is given of an imageforming apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the image forming apparatus 500. In thepresent embodiment, the image forming apparatus 500 is a tandem-typecolor printer. The image forming apparatus 500 includes a printer unit100, a sheet feeder 200, a scanner 300, and a document feeder 400. Thescanner 300 is disposed atop the printer unit 100. The document feeder400 is disposed atop the scanner 300. In the present embodiment, thedocument feeder 400 is an automatic document feeder (ADF).

The scanner 300 includes an exposure glass 32, first and second carriers33 and 34. an image forming lens 35, and a sensor 36. The scanner 300reads image data of a document placed on the exposure glass 32 with thesensor 36, and sends the image data thus read to a controller 510, whichis illustrated in FIG. 3. According to the image data received from thescanner 300, the controller 510 controls, e.g., a laser and alight-emitting diode (LED) array disposed inside an exposure device 21to irradiate surfaces of four drum-shaped photoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M,and 40C with laser beams L. The exposure device 21 and thephotoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C are included in the printer unit100, disposed facing each other. Thus, an electrostatic latent image isformed on each of the surfaces of the photoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and40C, and developed into a visible toner image through a predetermineddevelopment process.

In addition to the exposure device 21 and the photoconductors 40, theprinter unit 100 includes, e.g., a secondary transfer device 22, afixing device 25, a paper ejection device such as a pair of paperejection rollers 56, and a toner supplier.

The sheet feeder 200 includes an automatic feeding section 200A providedbelow the printer unit 100, and a manual bypass section 200B provided ona side of the printer unit 100. The automatic feeding section 200Aincludes, e.g., a paper bank 43, a plurality of paper trays 44 disposedone above the other in the paper bank 43, feed rollers 42 each of whichpicks up a recording medium from the corresponding paper tray 44, pairsof first separation rollers 45 each of which separates the recordingmedium from the corresponding paper tray 44 and sends the recordingmedium to a first conveyance passage 46, and pairs of conveyor rollers47 each of which conveys the recording medium toward a second conveyancepassage 48.

The bypass section 200B includes, e.g., a bypass tray 51 and a pair ofsecond separation rollers 52 that separates a recording medium fromanother one placed on the bypass tray 51 to send the recording mediumthus separated toward a bypass conveyance passage 53. A pair ofregistration rollers 49 is disposed around an end of the secondconveyance passage 48 in the printer unit 100. The pair of registrationrollers 49 receives the recording medium sent from one of the papertrays 44 or from the bypass tray 51, and then sends the recording mediumat a predetermined time to a secondary transfer nip formed between thesecondary transfer device 22 and an endless intermediate transfer belt10 serving as an intermediate transfer body.

A document is placed on a document table 30 of the document feeder 400to copy a color image or, alternatively, the document feeder 400 isopened and the document is placed on the exposure glass 32 of thescanner 300, and then closes the document feeder 400 to press thedocument against the exposure glass 32. Thereafter, the operator pressesa start button. The scanner 300 is activated after the document isconveyed onto the exposure glass 32 if the document is placed on thedocument feeder 400. Alternatively, the scanner 300 is activatedimmediately if the document is placed on the exposure glass 32.Specifically, the first and second carriers 33 and 34 move, and lightemitted from a light source of the first carrier 33 is reflected from asurface of the document toward the second carrier 34. The light is thenreflected from a mirror of the second carrier 34 and reaches the sensor36 via the image forming lens 35. The sensor 36 reads the light as imagedata.

When the image data is read as described above, the printer unit 100rotates one of support rollers 14, 15, and 16 with a drive motor so thatthe other two support rollers are rotated. The support rollers 14, 15,and 16 rotate the endless intermediate transfer belt 10 that isentrained around the support rollers 14, 15, and 16. In addition, asdescribed above, the exposure device 21 irradiates the surfaces of thephotoconductors 40 with the laser beams L to form latent images thereon.The latent images are rendered visible as toner images in a developingprocess. Thus, toner images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan areformed on the photoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C, respectively,while the photoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C are rotating.Sequentially, the toner images are electrostatically transferred ontothe intermediate transfer belt 10 at respective primary transfer nipswhere the intermediate transfer belt 10 contacts the photoconductors40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C, so that the toner images are superimposed oneatop another on the intermediate transfer belt 10 to form a four-colortoner image thereon.

In the meantime, the sheet feeder 200 rotates one of the three feedrollers 42 to direct a recording medium having an appropriate size forthe image data toward the second conveyance passage 48 of the printerunit 100. When the recording medium reaches the pair of registrationrollers 49 through the second conveyance passage 48, the pair ofregistration rollers 49 temporarily stops the recording medium, and thenconveys the recording medium at a predetermined time toward thesecondary transfer nip where the intermediate transfer belt 10 contactsa secondary transfer roller 23 of the secondary transfer device 22. Atthe secondary transfer nip, the four-color toner image formed on theintermediate transfer belt 10 and the recording medium are synchronizedto stick together. A transfer electrical field and physical pressure atthe secondary transfer nip transfers the four-color toner image onto therecording medium to form a full-color toner image thereon combined witha white color of the recording medium.

After passing through the secondary transfer nip, the recording mediumis conveyed to the fixing device 25 as an endless conveyor belt 24 ofthe secondary transfer device 22 rotates. In the fixing device 25, thefull-color toner image is fixed onto the recording medium under heatapplied by a heating belt 26 and pressure applied by a pressing roller27. Thereafter, the recording medium is ejected by the pair of paperejection rollers 56 onto a paper ejection tray 57 provided on a side ofthe printer unit 100.

The printer unit 100 further includes, e.g., a belt unit, a belt cleaner17, four primary transfer rollers 62K, 62Y, 62M, and 62C, and fourprocess units 18K, 18Y. 18M, and 18C serving as image formation devicesthat form toner images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan,respectively. The belt unit moves the endless intermediate transfer belt10, entrained around the support rollers 14, 15, and 16, in contact withthe photoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C. At the primary transfer nipswhere the intermediate transfer belt 10 contacts the photoconductors40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C, the primary transfer rollers 62K, 62Y, 62M, and62C presses the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10against the photoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C, respectively. Aprimary transfer bias is applied to each of the primary transfer rollers62K, 62Y, 62M, and 62C by a power source to form a primary transferelectrical field that electrostatically moves the toner images from thephotoconductors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C to the intermediate transfer belt10 at the primary transfer nips. Conductive rollers 74 are disposedbetween adjacent rollers of the primary transfer rollers 62K, 62Y, 62M,and 62C to contact the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt10. The conductive rollers 74 prevent the primary transfer bias appliedto the primary transfer rollers 62K, 62Y, 62M, and 62C from flowing intothe respective process units 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C via a base layer ofintermediate electrical resistance on the back surface of theintermediate transfer belt 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a detailed description is given of the processunits 18.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one of the process units 18. The processunits 18K, 18Y, 18M, and 18C are identical in configuration, differingonly in color of toner employed. Therefore, to simplify the descriptionand the drawings, these suffixes are omitted unless necessary.

The process unit 18 includes the photoconductor 40 irradiated with thelaser beams L emitted from the exposure device 21, a developing unit 61that develops a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor40 with toner, and a cleaner 63 that removes residual toner that failsto be transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 and thereforeremaining on the surface of the photoconductor 40 from thephotoconductor 40. The process unit 18 also includes a neutralizingdevice that neutralizes the surface of the photoconductor 40 from whichthe residual toner is removed, and a charging device 64 that uniformlycharges the neutralized surface of the photoconductor 40. The cleaner 63includes a cleaning blade 81 that contacts the photoconductor 40, and aholder 82 that holds an end of the cleaning blade 81. On the other endof the cleaning blade 81, the cleaning blade 81 has an edge 81 a thatcontacts the photoconductor 40.

A description is now given of deformation of the cleaning blade 81.

As described above, the cleaning blade 81 has the edge 81 a thatcontacts the photoconductor 40 to scrape the residual toner off thephotoconductor 40 while the photoconductor 40 is rotating. A relativelyhigh friction resistance between the photoconductor 40 and the cleaningblade 81 generates relatively large friction therebetween, resulting infailures such as deformation of the cleaning blade 81. For example, thecleaning blade 81 may be curled. Generally, the friction resistance issuppressed by the residual toner between the photoconductor 40 and thecleaning blade 81. However, images formed with a relatively low imagearea ratio may increase the friction resistance, causing the deformationof the cleaning blade 81.

If images are continuously formed with a relatively low image area ratiopartially in a main scanning direction, the friction resistance mayincrease partially, causing the deformation of the cleaning blade 81.The deformation of the cleaning blade 81 may damage the photoconductor40, generating defective images. As a result, both the cleaning blade 81and the photoconductor 40 may require replacement. Similarly, the beltcleaner 17 that includes a cleaning blade to remove residual toner fromthe intermediate transfer belt 10 may experience the deformation of thecleaning blade and may cause the above-described problems.

In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 500 has atandem-type configuration in which the process units 18K, 18Y, 18M, and18C are arranged side by side along a direction in which theintermediate transfer belt 10 rotates.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a detailed description is given of a controlsystem of the image forming apparatus 500. In the present embodiment,the controller 510 serves as a cleaning blade failure predictionprocessor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the controller 510 incorporated in theimage forming apparatus 500. The controller 510 is connected to theprinter unit 100, the sheet feeder 200, the scanner 300, the documentfeeder 400, and a control panel 520. The controller 510 is alsoconnected to an external computer 530 such as a personal computer thatis connected to the image forming apparatus 500. The controller 510exerts overall control of the image forming apparatus 500, and includes,e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) 511 serving as a calculator, arandom access memory (RAM) 512 serving as a data storage that stores,e.g., calculation data and a control parameter, a read-only memory (ROM)513 serving as a data storage that stores a control program, and anonvolatile RAM 514 serving as a data storage. The controller 510 servesas a data acquisition circuit and a cleaning blade failure predictionprocessor with the CPU 511 executing the control program stored in theROM 513.

The control panel 520 includes, e.g., a display part and an operationpart. The display part is a liquid crystal display or the like thatdisplays, e.g., text information. The operation part receives input datathrough a ten key or the like and sends the input data to the controller510. The controller 510 also receives and stores input data from theexternal computer 530.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a description is now given of failureprediction performed by the controller 510.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the controller 510. Thecontroller 510, serving as a cleaning blade failure predictionprocessor, includes a pixel count acquisition circuit 610, a firstcumulative pixel count calculation circuit 620, a second cumulativepixel count calculation circuit 630, a deformation identificationcircuit 640, an image formation control circuit 650, and a warningcircuit 660.

The pixel count acquisition circuit 610 acquires pixel count data of thephotoconductor 40 serving as a cleaning target of the cleaning blade 81.Specifically, the photoconductor 40 is divided into a plurality of areasin a main scanning direction of the photoconductor 40, and the pixelcount acquisition circuit 610 acquires a pixel count for each of theplurality of areas of the photoconductor 40. The pixel count isextracted from the image data sent from the scanner 300 or the externalcomputer 530. The pixel count thus extracted is accumulated for each ofthe plurality of areas of the photoconductor 40.

The photoconductor 40 is divided into the plurality of areas by numberof pixels. This dividing can be done through the control panel 520. Inthe present embodiment, the photoconductor 40 is equally divided intosixteen areas in the main scanning direction thereof, and for each ofthe sixteen areas, the deformation identification circuit 640 determineswhether or not the cleaning blade 81 shows signs of failure.

The first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit 620 accumulates thepixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the photoconductor 40until a component of the image forming apparatus 500 subject to failureprediction is replaced with new one. The second cumulative pixel countcalculation circuit 630 divides the cumulative pixel count by a distancetraveled to obtain a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.Alternatively, the second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit 630may divide a cumulative pixel count per area for a prescribed period oftime by a distance traveled for the prescribed period of time to obtaina cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.

The prescribed period of time is determined based on the distancetraveled or the number of printed sheets. One way of determining theprescribed period of time is using a lifetime or a fraction of alifetime of the component of the image forming apparatus 500 subject todiagnosis. For example, a tenth part of the lifetime of the componentsubject to diagnosis is determined as the prescribed period of time. Afailure resulting from the deformation of a cleaning blade (e.g.,cleaning blade 81) may be caused by, e.g., continuous image formationwith a relatively low image area ratio after image formation with arelatively high image area ratio. The cumulative pixel count for aprescribed period of time contributes to detection of signs of such afailure.

The deformation identification circuit 640 compares the cumulative pixelcount per distance traveled obtained by the second cumulative pixelcount calculation circuit 630 with a predetermined threshold. If thecumulative pixel count per distance traveled exceeds the threshold, thedeformation identification circuit 640 determines that the cleaningblade 81 shows signs of failure.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between image area ratioand frequency. The vertical axis indicates the frequency while thehorizontal axis indicates the image area ratio.

Generally, image formation is performed with an image area ratio ofabout 5%. Accordingly, if the image area ratio is extremely low,specifically less than 0.1%, the risk of deformation of the cleaningblade 81 may increase. In practice, the image area ratio is rarely setless than 0.1%. However, the image area ratio per area of, e.g., thephotoconductor 40 in the main scanning direction thereof may befrequently less than 0.1%. In the image forming apparatus 500, if theimage area ratio is less than 0.1%, it is determined that the cleaningblade 81 shows signs of failure. The threshold depends on the machinetype and/or the type of the cleaning blade 81.

If the deformation identification circuit 640 identifies an area of thephotoconductor 40 in the main scanning direction thereof showing thesigns of failure of the cleaning blade 81, the image formation controlcircuit 650 forms a toner image in the area of the photoconductor 40,thereby decreasing the friction resistance between the cleaning blade 81and the photoconductor 40. Similarly, if the deformation identificationcircuit 640 identifies an area of the intermediate transfer belt 10 in amain scanning direction thereof showing the signs of failure of thecleaning blade of the belt cleaner 17, the image formation controlcircuit 650 forms a toner image in the area of the intermediate transferbelt 10, thereby decreasing the friction resistance between the cleaningblade of the belt cleaner 17 and the intermediate transfer belt 10. Thetoner image is formed between sheets or after a print job is completed.

FIG. 6A is a graph showing failure sign identification results per area.FIG. 6B is a plan view of a toner image T formed on the photoconductor40, in the areas showing the signs of failure of the cleaning blade 81.In FIG. 6A, the vertical axis indicates the failure sign identificationresults while the horizontal axis indicates the areas. The signs offailure of the cleaning blade 81 are shown in the areas with theidentification results of zero. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the tonerimage T is formed in the areas showing the signs of failure of thecleaning blade 81 to prevent the deformation of the cleaning blade 81.

If the deformation identification circuit 640 determines that thecleaning blade 81 shows signs of failure, that is, signs of deformation,the warning circuit 660 displays a warning message on the display partof the control panel 520. Alternatively, the warning circuit 660 maytransmit a warning about signs of failure to the image forming apparatus500 via a local area network (LAN) or send an email to, e.g., amaintenance center via a LAN.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a detailed description is given of a firstseries of operations of the image forming apparatus 500.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the first series of operations of the imageforming apparatus 500. In this example, the image formation controlcircuit 650 forms a toner image to prevent the deformation of thecleaning blade 81. In step SA1, a pixel count acquired by the pixelcount acquisition circuit 610 and stored in the RAM 512 is read. In stepSA2, a distance traveled is read. In step SA3, the first cumulativepixel count calculation circuit 620 calculates a cumulative pixel countper area from the pixel count read in SA1. In SA4, the second cumulativepixel count calculation circuit 630 calculates a cumulative pixel countper distance traveled from the distance traveled read in step SA2 andthe cumulative pixel count per area calculated in step SA3. In step SA5,the deformation identification circuit 640 compares the cumulative pixelcount per distance traveled with a threshold to determine whether or notthe cleaning blade 81 shows signs of failure. If the cumulative pixelcount per distance traveled is equal to or greater than the thresholdand an area showing the signs of failure of the cleaning blade 81 exists(YES in step SA5), the image formation control circuit 650 forms a tonerimage in the area showing the signs of failure of the cleaning blade 81in step SA6. On the other hand, if no area shows the signs of failure ofthe cleaning blade 81 (NO in step SA5), the toner image is not formed,and thus, the first series of operations is completed.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a detailed description is given of a secondseries of operations of the image forming apparatus 500.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the second series of operations of the imageforming apparatus 500. In this example, the warning circuit 660transmits a warning about deformation of the cleaning blade 81. In thissecond series of operations, steps SB1 through SB5 are identical tosteps SA1 through SA5 of FIG. 7. Thus, for example, in step SB5, thedeformation identification circuit 640 compares the cumulative pixelcount per distance traveled with a threshold to determine whether or notthe cleaning blade 81 shows signs of failure. If the cumulative pixelcount per distance traveled is equal to or greater than the thresholdand an area showing the signs of failure of the cleaning blade 81 exists(YES in step SB5), the warning circuit 660 executes a warning process instep SB6. For example, the warning circuit 660 displays a warningmessage on the display part of the control panel 520. Alternatively, thewarning circuit 660 may transmit a warning that the cleaning blade 81shows signs of failure to the image forming apparatus 500 via a LAN, orsend an email to a maintenance center via a LAN. On the other hand, ifno area shows the signs of failure of the cleaning blade 81 (NO in stepSB5), the warning process is not executed, and thus, the second seriesof operations is completed.

It is to be noted that the image forming apparatus 500 can execute theimage formation process with the image formation control circuit 650while simultaneously executing the warning process with the warningcircuit 660. In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning blade 81that cleans the photoconductor 40 is described as a device subject toprediction of a failure resulting from deformation. Alternatively, thedevice subject to prediction may be a cleaning blade that cleans anotherdevice such as the intermediate transfer belt 10.

Thus, according to the embodiments of the present invention, thedeformation of cleaning blades resulting from continuous image formationwith a relatively low image area ratio can be predicted for earlymaintenance, thereby preventing a failure resulting from the deformationof cleaning blades.

The present invention has been described above with reference tospecific exemplary embodiments. It is to be noted that the presentinvention is not limited to the details of the embodiments describedabove, but various modifications and enhancements are possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. It is therefore to beunderstood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described herein. For example, elements and/or features ofdifferent illustrative exemplary embodiments may be combined with eachother and/or substituted for each other within the scope of thisinvention. The number of constituent elements and their locations,shapes, and so forth are not limited to any of the structure forperforming the methodology illustrated in the drawings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning blade failure prediction processor foran image forming apparatus comprising: a pixel count acquisition circuitto acquire pixel count data of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade,the cleaning target divided into a plurality of areas in a main scanningdirection of the cleaning target, the pixel count acquisition circuitacquiring a pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of thecleaning target; a first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit tocalculate a cumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas ofthe cleaning target; a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuitto calculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of thecleaning target; and a deformation identification circuit to determinewhether or not the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation accordingto the cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.
 2. The cleaningblade failure prediction processor according to claim 1, wherein thecleaning target is a photoconductor.
 3. The cleaning blade failureprediction processor according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning targetis an intermediate transfer body.
 4. The cleaning blade failureprediction processor according to claim 1, further comprising an imageformation control circuit, wherein the deformation identificationcircuit determines whether or not the cleaning blade shows signs offailure for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target, andwherein, if the deformation identification circuit identifies an area ofthe plurality of areas of the cleaning target showing the signs offailure of the cleaning blade, the image formation control circuit formsa toner image in the area of the cleaning target.
 5. The cleaning bladefailure prediction processor according to claim 1, further comprising awarning circuit to transmit a warning if the deformation identificationcircuit determines that the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation.6. An image forming apparatus comprising: the cleaning blade failureprediction processor according to claim 1; and an image formation devicethat includes the cleaning blade, failure of which is predicted by thecleaning blade failure prediction processor.